Preparing for Your New Poodle Or Doodle Puppy
Preparing for your New Poodle or doodle Puppy
TLC by the Lake Standard Poodle & Doodles
Your #1 priority is to maintain good health in your puppy
1. Start by scheduling an appointment with your veterinarian. Your appointment will need to be within 72hours from the time you receive your puppy as stated in our Sales Contract. Be sure to bring in a fresh stoolsample the day of your appointment. Any health concerns must be reported back to the breeder within the 72hours. *Your puppy will have already been checked by our veterinarian but this appointment is very important for you and your puppy to establish a relationship with your Veterinarian. Your Veterinarian will assist you withscheduling all follow-up vaccinations, de-wormings, and provide preventative treatments for flea and Tick control andheartworm and lymes.
2. We highly recommend Veterinary Pet Insurance. Your pet’s coverage begins just 14 days afterenrollment so signup ASAP so your first visit will be covered you can sign up even before the puppy comes home! If your puppy is Poodle your AKC registration if you fill it out on line will give you a $30.00 certificate for Vet visit
Under $20 a month can provide greatcoverage for assisting in the expenses of routine care as well as covering the high cost of emergency room visitsdue to unexpected accidents. Even the most careful and responsible pet owner cannot prevent all accidents.
Call 800-USA- PETS or visit petinsurance.com.
3. Be carefulwhich public places youbring your puppy to until ALL puppy vaccinations are completed. If you stay onschedule, your puppy’s vaccines should be completed at 4 months of age. Limit your puppy to your own home andbackyard and local walks and homes where you know pets are vaccinated. Although they are welcome at pet stores PLEASE do not bring them there. Many puppy viruses cansimply be contracted by walking on the ground where an infected pet has been. The most serious and lifethreatening viruses such as Parvo and Distemper can live in an environment for up to 6mth months and still be highlycontagious. Also, do not put your puppy on the floor at your vets office.
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4. Continue feeding the same brand of puppy food we are feeding your puppy for at least 1 week.Science Diet Lg Breed puppy or 4 Health puppy (Tractor Supply).Wefeed our Poodles &doodles only premium quality dry puppy foods to ensure proper nutrition. We will provide youwith a small bag of food to start, in case you decide on a different premium quality food you would like totransition over to. It’s very important when switching foods to do it gradually. At least over a 10 day period toavoid an upset tummy and diarrhea. Canned food should never be an option in a regular healthy diet or formoistening food. It can cause softer, smellier stools and it promotes early tooth decay.Do not over feed your puppy. It is recommended to set a feeding time for morning and
evening. Each brand of food calls for different feeding portions. Refer to the feeding chart on your bag of puppyfood. You may switch from puppy food to adult food between 12-18 months of age. Consult with your veterinarianon what the best time will be for your puppy to switch.
5. Ear maintenance is needed. It is important to keep your puppy’s ears Clean and Dry to prevent ear infections.There are cleaning and drying products available at pet stores or at your veterinarian’s office. Often doodles(just like poodles) can have a lot of hair in the ear canal which may need to be plucked by your veterinarian orgroomer. Weekly or bi-weekly cleaning is needed to help prevent ear infection.
6. Do not let your puppy Jump until he is about 18 months old. Repetitive movement can causestress on joints. You could cause or contribute to joint problems that could affect your dog for the rest of his life.Free play and exercise off leash will be ok. Short walks and training to walk on a leash is ok too.Your second priority is to train and properly socialize your puppy
This is an X-ray of a 2 week old puppy.Look at how far the bones have to grow before they become a proper bony joint! This is why you should never let puppies jump, walk up/down stairs, over exercise or over train. Too much impact activity at a young age will cause serious issues later in life, or even at a young age as hip dysplasia and other orthopedic conditions are rising in puppies!
Remember the puppy rule for every month increase activity by 5 minuets! For example an 8 week old puppy only needs 10 minutes physical activity a day - a 6 month old only needs 30 minutes a day of physical activity!!
*physical activity includes - going for a walk, training, playing fetch, running, playing with other dogs etc.
Enjoy your new puppy but remember you wouldn't make a 6 month old baby run a mile a day so don't make your puppy either!
7. Take your puppy to a training or obedience class. At 4 months of age is a great time to start. Earlierclasses are available for younger pups.. The earlier classes do provide basic training and tips toprevent behavior problems before they start so there is a definite benefit to these early classes especially if youhave children in your home. I also recommend a book called “Raising Puppies with Kids”- A Parent’s Guide.Your first year with your puppy requires a lot of time and energy. It is up to you to help your puppy become awell behaved member of your family, one that you will all enjoy spending time with.*Give treats only when you are ready to start consistently training. Never give treats”Justbecause”. Also neverfeed table scraps unless you want your dog begging or getting on the tables and counters all the time. Sometreats can often upset a young pup’s tummy too. It is best to save treats for training and when your dog is anadult and already trained.
8. Socializing your puppy is important to maintain a well-rounded temperament. Be sure to let yourpuppy play with other pups and dogs. Puppy socializing and play groups are offered through pet stores and canbe a great way for you and your puppy to experience other dogs and people .Expose your puppy to as manyclips or ear cleaning. And frequent short car rides are important to prevent stress when traveling in the future tothe vet, groomer, parks, etc.
9. Protect your puppy from young children. This is a very important step in successfully raising your newpuppy with your children or grandchildren. A puppy must have his own space where he is safe and can retreat towhen feeling overwhelmed by a young child. All too often temperaments of puppy’s change for the worse due tobeing left unattended with a young child. Check your book stores and pet stores for the great books that areavailable regarding raising a puppy and child together.
What to buy to be prepared
Puppy Food- your puppy is currently eating Science Diet Lg Breed Puppy & 4 Health puppy(Tractor Supply)
Feeding Bowls- Stainless steel, separate dishes that have a wider bottom than top so it can not be tipped orover turned, avoid double dishes.
Collar- Puppy training classes require a collar with a buckle, not plastic clasps. We train with Choker collars. It is the sound not the choking part that you
Leash- It is not necessary to leash train before 10weeks old. Training classes May require a 6 foot leashrather than the 4-foot.
Crate- Either a wire or plastic crate. A wire crate is great because the puppy can see what’s going on around him,you will probably want to cover it with a blanket or light sheet at night to avoid drafts and encourage sleeping and make it their little den. Most wirecrates come with a divider to make it smaller for easier potty training at younger age. A plastic crate works great too and is easyto wash down. You can purchase a crate that is a suitable size for your puppy once he is full grown just use the divider for puppy stage. While pottytraining your pup in the full size crate it will be beneficial to block part of the crate off.
Exercise Pen- This can be used both for training and/or playtime. Buy one that is no taller than 24-30”. Thispen should be used when you are unable to pay attention to the pup. This will provide a safe place for your pupto sleep and play when you are not available to keep a close eye on him. This can also be an alternative if yourpup will not tolerate a crate. It is also highly recommended to be used outdoors in the yard. The back yard can besuch large and overwhelming place for the pup to get lost in and it will also help protect him from chewing on
poisonous plants and flowers. It folds up flat for easy storage and travel.
Bedding- Washable bedding is best for the crate (be prepared for potty accidents)(old towels at first work great). Also a separate bed that canbe used around the house. It will be great for training your puppy to lay on it so he won’t be under your feet allthe time. Washable and chew proof! Foam beds covered in thin materials are often disasters.
Carpet Cleaner- It’s inevitable to have potty accidents in the house. Be prepared with a product that will takecare of the stains and eliminate odors that can cause the pup to return to the same spot. I recommend Nature’sMiracle or Simple Solution stain and odor remover, also a quick fix is Vinegar and Water mixture.
Bitter Apple- This product will help train your pup on what NOT to chew on. It is safe for plants, carpeting,furniture, shoes. Have this one on hand before something you love gets chewed on.
Chew Toys- A good variety of chew toys will help keep your pup occupied and not bored. Bully Stix, Cow hooves, and stuffed Kongs are great. Avoid rawhide, it is not completely digestible and colored rawhide canstain your carpet. Remember you own the toys not the puppy. You tell it when to play and pull up and put away when you say. This keeps them from chewing anything that you do not give them. Like socks, shoes, etc.Hidding Toys around the house allows for hunting instinct. Rememeber not to leave toys out all the time. Remove when you say it is time. (you own everything, you are alpha)
Play toys- Ropes and stuffed toys with squeakers are favored.
Treats- Treats should be very limited. Training can be moreeffective if your puppy is not used to always getting them and they can cause diarrhea in the more sensitivepuppy tummy. Avoid junk food for dogs, for example, Snausages,Puproni, and other unnatural products.
For Grooming-Shampoo- Choose a tearless puppy shampoo.Easy Groom all shampoos, Mane and Tail works great. Ask your groomer what they use to keep it consistent. Only wash your puppy no more the every 2 weeks. Over bathing can cause skin problems or irritation.
Cowboy Magic- This grooming product is great for maintaining a good coat and to help eliminatematts. (This product is not needed for our 1st generation Golden doodles)
Brushes- A slicker brush and a comb, and a dematter.
Ear Cleaner- Clean the ears once a week. Buy a cleaning solution and if needed a drying powder.
Nail Clippers and Kwik Stop – Trim the nails once a week. Keep Kwik Stop on hand in case you cutthe nail back too far. Bleeding will be difficult to stop without it.Our/Your puppy is use to having a Dermal used on their nail if you would choose to continue to use.
Blunt Trimming Scissors- For trimming between eyes, feet, etc.
You will need to do some extra brushing during the time your puppy’s coat transitions into an adult coat. Thiswill remove the dead puppy coat so the adult coat will not matt into it. This transition usually occurs before oneyear of age and can take several months before the adult coat is fully in.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions about caring for your pup. My
support is always available to you.
Thanks! Trudy Pickrel